Veneer lathe



Sept. 3, 1957 c. E. PARKER 2,804,891

VENEER LATHE Filed April 14, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l I l l l I I INVENTOR. CZ HIE/V65 EMF/(5R Sept. 3, 1957 c. E. PARKER 91 VENEER LATHE Filed April 14. 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

C L memes [PAR/(El? C E. PARKER VENEER LATHE Sept. 3, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 14, 1954 m M M n L mu mm WM up \v mm M v ww INVENTOR CL flPf/VCE L PARKER United States Patent VENEER LATHE Clarence E. Parker, Painesville, Ohio, assignor to The Coe Manufacturing Company, Painesville, (iiiie, a cerporation of Ohio Application April 14, 1954, Serial No. 423,050

Claims. (Cl. 144-214) The present invention relates to veneer lathes and, more particularly, to a veneer lathe including means movable by fluid pressure for engaging and holding a log or the like to be cut.

Veneer lathes are commonly provided with stay logs for supporting a flitch, stump, burl, or quartered log which is to be cut to produce a veneer having a pleasing grain effect. One type of veneer lathe comprises spaced, axially aligned rotatable spindles and the stay log is supported between the spindles and is adapted to hold the log while it is rotated into the knife of the lathe for cutting the veneer.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel and improved veneer lathe having spaced, rotatably supported spindles and a stay log mounted therebetween for rotation with the spindles, the stap log including clamping means movable by fluid pressure adapted to clamp a log in" position and hold it even if the log is irregular.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel and improved veneer lathe having spaced, axially aligned rotatable spindles and a member for supporting a log to be cut mounted therebetween for rotation therewith, the member having clamping means movable to a position in engagement with the log to grip the log and to a disengaged position, and tubular radially expansible means for holding the clamping means in one of its positions.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel and improved veneer lathe having pivotally mounted clamping means movable from a disengaged to an engaged position for gripping a log to be cut and fluid pressure responsive means, preferably an expansible tubular member, for imparting movement to the clamping means and for holding the clamping means in one of its positions.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a veneer cutting machine having fluid pressure operated means for holding the log to be cut wherein the line or conduit supplying the fluid pressure thereto may be quickly and easily disconnected and remain disconnected during the cutting operation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel and improved stay log adapted to be mounted between the spindles of a veneer lathe for supporting a flitch, the stay log including fluid pressure operated clamp means adapted to securely grip the flitch even though the flitch may be irregular and being so constructed that it can be quickly put-in or removed from a conventional veneer lathe.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of'this specification in which Fig. l is a plan view of a veneer lathe embodying the ice present invention with a log flitch shown therein in dotdash lines;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along line 22 of Fig. l, but with the stay log in a different rotatable position and withrthe flitch shown in full lines;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view with parts broken away showing one end of the stay log and the adjoining end of one of the spindles of the lathe; and

Fig. 4 is a view taken approximately along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The present invention is susceptible of various modifications and of uses in various types of machines where it is necessary to grip and hold a log while performing an operation thereon. For purposes of illustration, it has been shown as embodied in the type of veneerlathe illustrated and described in U. S. Patent 1,877,013 issued September 13, 1932 to R. C. Moore.

Referring to the drawings, the lathe illustrated therein comprises a frame A with the usual end frames 10 for supporting the knife carriage mechanism B and spaced, axially aligned spindles 11, 12 arranged adjacent the front side of the lathe and rotatably supported by difierent end frames 10. A stump, burl, or log 13 to be cut is supported intermediate the spindles and extends longitudinally of the lathe. When the lathe is in operation the spindles are rotated, and in turn the log, by a motor operatively connected to the spindles 11 and 12.

The knife carriage B comprises a knife bar 18 extending longitudinally of the lathe and supported at two places at each of its opposite ends. The first point of support for each end of the knife bar is formed by its circular tongue and groove connection, indicated at 19 by dotted lines, in a head block 20 slidably mounted in a guideway in the corresponding end plate. This form of mounting for the knife bar 18 is well understood in the art and further reference thereto or illustration thereof is unnecessary. The other point of support for the opposite ends of the knife bar 18 is at the lower side thereof where a pin 21 on the knife carriage is connected to a block sliding in a slot 23 in a pitch-way frame 24. Although not illustrated herein it is customary to support the pitchway frame so that it may be adjustably inclined in either direction, the form of such support usually being provided by means of eccentrics arranged at opposite ends of the frame whereby the eccentrics may be moved to change the inclination of the frame. Under usual cutting conditions the slot 23 in the frame should incline downwardly from the back of the lathe toward the spindles.

The knife bar 18 should be so mounted that the cutting edge of a knife 25 supported thereby is in line with the centers of the circular tongue and grooves 19 in the head block, while the entire knife bar pivots about this line during its feeding or receding movements. It is understood that the knife bar head blocks 20 are each operatively connected with different feed screws 26 which are in turn connected through suitable gearing to a shaft 27 driven by a motor 28 to facilitate rapid positioning of carriage B. When the lathe is in operation the knife bar will be fed so as to maintain the cutting edge of the knife 25 in engagement with the log as the latter is rotated by the spindles and is accordingly reduced in diameter. The

veneer lathe as thus far described is of conventional construction and the operation thereof and the details of construction not set forth are well understood by those skilled in the art.

In the preferred and illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a stay log C for supporting the log 13 to be cut and having fluid pressure responsive or hydraulic actuated means for gripping the log is mounted intermediate the spindles 11, 12. In the illustrated embodimerit the stay log C comprises a support member or bar 40 extending longitudinally of the lathe and having one of its sides 41 adapted to support the log 13.

The member is connected to the respective spindles by. mechanical couplings. 4 2 at the ends. of: the member 40. Each coupling 42 comprises two coupling members 43; Mrespectively, the coupling member 43' having a bushing 45extending therefrom adapted to fit over the end of spindle 11 to forma driving; connection between the spindle and the coupling.

The coupling member 44 is adjustably connected to the coupling member 43, and the logsupporting member 40 is adjustably connected tothe coupling member 44 by similar keywayconstructions. The log supporting member 40 is provided with'a key 47 at the end thereof which is received ina keyway. 48, intthecoupling member 44; Themember 44.,includes. a; portion 49 which overlies theendofthekey i 'li and,is adapted to support a screw 50 which, threads into the key 47 providing an adjustable; connection between the member 44 and the logsupporting member 40. The adjustability. of the log supporting member 40 with respect to the couplingmember 44 is along the axis of-thescrew 50. The coupling member 44 is-connected to the coupling member 43 by a similar arrangement including a screw. 51 corresponding to the screw 50 and having its axis in skew relationship to the axis of screw 50. It will be seen from the foregoing that the mechanical coupling} 42 provides a connection between: the log supporting member 46 and the spindle 11' which permitsadjustment of the throw of the stay log C along lines which are perpendicular to each other permitting the stay log to be offset in two directions with respect to the axis of the spindle.

The log 13 is adapted to be gripped and held in position on the member 40 by a plurality of movable clamping dogs 53 placedrin end to end relationship along aline extending longitudinally of, the member 49 and cooperating with a fixed dog 54' Spaced from the movable dogs 53 and extending, along a line substantially parallel to that defined by the movabledogs. Aplurality of movable dogs 53' is preferable to provide flexibility in the clamping means tocompensate for any possible irregularity in the piece being clamped. The dogs 53, 54 are adapted to be received in longitudinal recesses or rectangular grooves 55, 56 respectively in the surface of the log 13 adjacent the side 41. The grooveSS is of sutficient width to enable the movable dogs 53 to move transversely of the groove into and out of engagement with one of its sidewalls 57. The spacing between grooves 55, 56' is such that whenthe movable dogs 53 are in engagement with the side wall 57 the fixeddog 54' is also in engagement with aside wall of the groove-56 to provide a clamping action. Due to the limited adjustability between thefixed and. movable dogs it is generally necessary to cut the grooves 55, 56. If the piece itself is of the proper size to fit between the dogs 53, 54, this may not have to be done.

The movable dogs 53' are located partly within and extend from a longitudinal channel 60in the member 40 opening into the side 41. Each movable dog 53 is pivotally supported for movement toward and: away from the centerline of the member by an ear 61 extending from. the side of the dog 53 and pivotally received in a recess 62 in side wall 63 of channel 60 to form a rockertype connection. The movabledogs 53 are spring biased toward the left hand side of the member40 as it is viewed in Fig. 3, i. e. out of engagement with the log 13, by springs 64 mounted intermediate each dog 53 and side wall 65' of channel 60' located opposite the recess 62. Recesses may be providedinthe dogs 53 and side wall 65 to receive the ends of. springs 64.

Each movable dog 53 is caused to move to its engaged position wherein itis adapted to engage the side wall 57 of groovein log 13' by fluid pressure responsiveor hydraulic means, located, in thepreferred embodi- 4; ment, in the lower portion of the channel 60. It has been found particularly advantageous to provide a fluid pressure responsive means comprising an expansible tube or hose-like member 66 made of flexible material ;and adapted to be expanded or inflated from a collapsed position to increase its volume and space occupied thereby. As illustrated the tube 66 is-adapted to lie adjacent the side wall 65 of the channel: 60 when in its collapsed condition and is adapted, when fluid pressure is internally applied thereto-,- to-expand oninflate transversely to engage the lower ends of 'the movable dogs 53' and move them clockwise about their pivots into engagement with the log 13. The movable. dogs.,53 are; held, in their engaged position by the fluid pressure within the tube 66. Upon the release of the fluidpressure the springs 64 move the dog 53 in a counterclockwise direction about their pivots to move them to a disengaged position. The pressure medium is preferably, air but may, be anyother suitable medium. I g

The tube 66 is connected, at one end to a pipe 67 extending from the channel 60 out through the member 49 to provide-an externaL connection for supplyingfluid pressure to the tube 66., The, pipe 6'7, is connected toa, quick connective two-way. shutoff coupling 68-, so that fluid pressure is automat fia lwtrapped within the tube 66 when a supply lines; connected to one part of the coupling 68. is disconnectedfrom-the stay logQ by separating the coupling to perm-it the-stay logto rotate freely with the spindles 11, 12. The coupling 68 is of conventional construction andmay: be; of, the type, described in U. S. Patent 25485281071 1. E,,I:Ianson. A valve 70 is provided intermediate the tube 66- and; the, disconnect,

coupling to release the pressure to the atmosphere and unclamp the log.

A feature of the preferred construction is that the movable dogs 53 may easily be removedfrom the channel 60..

permitting access to the expansible; tube 66 and replacement thereof. When the pressure: isoff the tube 66,, the dogs 53 may be lifted upwardly from their rocker type support and the springs64. The top of. channel 60 is of: suflicient width to permitpassage of the, dogs 53. and the tube 66.

Spaced rotatable means such as, discs may be used in,

place of the axially aligned;spindlesshownanddescribed.

It may also he sometimes desirable to lead the airline into pansible fluid responsive means is expanded to, move a clamping dog into engagement withlthe log andv to hold it in engagement therewith against the action of means for urging the dog-to adisengaged position The use of. fluid pressure, to hold thedog in engagement with the log enables the gripping. pressure to be readily-controlled. It will be well understood by those, skilled in the art, however, that a dog-could be spring biased intoengagement with the log and fluid pressure responsive means utilized to move the dog to a disengaged position to permit the attachment and removal of the log. While the use of a flexible tube such as a hose is particularly advantageous due to its relative simplicity and low cost, other suitable hydraulic or fluid responsive means may be substituted therefor, if sodesired From the foregoing description of the preferred em bodirnent of the invention, it isapparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and others have been aecomplished and thatthere has been provided a new and improved veneer lathe havingnoyel fluid pressure responsive means for gripping a log to be rotatedjnto engagementwith a knife-blade. While-the-preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown and it is my intention to cover hereby all adaptations, modifications and uses thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a veneer lathe or the like, rotatable means for supporting a log to be .cut comprising a log supporting member having a log supporting surface and a longitudinally extending recess adjacent to said surface, said recess having spaced opposed side walls extending substantially perpendicular to said surface, a plurality of aligned clam-p members extending outwardly of said surface for engaging a log to be supported and extending inwardly into said recess, each of said clamp members having a portion defining a ball pivot, one of said side walls including means defining sockets for receiving said ball pivots to pivotally support said clamp members for movement transversely of said recess, individual spring means interposed between each of said clamp members and the other one of said spaced side Walls for yieldably urging said clamp members in one direction about their pivots, a flexible expansible tubular member located within said recess for engaging said clamp members and moving the clamp members in the other direction about their pivots against the action of said spring means, and means for supplying fluid pressure to said tubular member.

2. In 'a stay log adapted to be connected between the spindles of a veneer lathe, an elongated member having a log receiving surface, means adjacent to opposite ends of said member for detachably connecting it to the spindles of a veneer lathe and for adjusting it transversely of the axis of rotation of said spindles, abutment means projecting outwardly of said log receiving surface adjacent to one longitudinal edge thereof for engagement with a log on said surface and limiting movement of the log along said surface in one direction, said log engaging surface having a groove therein adjacent to the longitudinal edge thereof opposite to said abutment means, a clamp member in said groove and having a portion projecting outwardly of said surface for engagement with a log on said surface, means movably supporting said clamp member in said groove for movement of said projecting portion toward and from said first named 'abutment means, pressure fluid actuated means for moving said clamp member, and means for supplying and exhausting pressure fluid to and from said pressure fluid actuated means.

3. In a stay log adapted to be connected between the spindles of a veneer lathe, an elongated member having a log engaging surface, means adjacent to opposite ends of said member for detachably connecting it to the spindles of a veneer lathe and for adjusting it transversely of the axis of rotation of said spindles, abutment means projecting outwardly of said log engaging surface adjacent to one longitudinal edge thereof for engagement with a log on said surface and limiting movement thereof on said surface in one direction, said log engaging surface having a groove therein adjacent to the longitudinal edge thereof opposite to said abutment means, a plurality of aligned clamp members in said groove each having a portion projecting outwardly of said surface for engagement with a log on said surface, means mova-bly supporting said clamp members in said groove for movement of said projecting portions toward and from said first named abutment means, pressure fluid actuated means for moving said clamp members, and means for supplying and exhausting pressure fluid to and from said pressure fluid actuated means.

4. In a stay log adapted to be connected between the spindles of a veneer lathe, an elongated member having a log engaging surface, means adjacent to opposite ends of said member for detachably connecting it to the spindles of a veneer lathe and for adjusting it transversely of the axis of rotation of said spindles, abutment means projecting outwardly of said log engaging surface adjacent to one longitudinal edge thereof for engagement with a log on said surface and limiting movement thereof on said surface in one direction, said log engaging surface having a groove therein adjacent to the longitudinal edge thereof opposite to said abutment means, a plurality of aligned clamp members in said groove each having a portion projecting outwardly beyond said surface for engagement with a log on said surface, means movably supporting said clamp members in said groove for movement of said projecting portions toward and from said first named abutment means, an expansible tubular member in said groove between a side wall thereof and said clamp members for moving said clamp members, and means for supplying and exhausting pressure fluid to and from said tubular member.

5. In a stay log adapted to be connected between the spindles of a veneer lathe, an elongated member having a log engaging surface, means adjacent to opposite ends of said member for detachably connecting it to the spindles of a veneer lathe and for adjusting it transversely of the axis of rotation of said spindles, abutment means projecting outwardly of said log engaging surface adjacent to one longitudinal edge thereof for engagement with a log on said surface and limiting movement thereof on said surface in one direction, said log engaging surface having a groove therein adjacent to the longitudinal edge thereof opposite to said abutment means, a plurality of aligned clamp members in said groove each having a portion projecting outwardly beyond said surface for engagement with a log on said surface, means movably supporting said clamp members in said groove for movement of said projecting portions toward and from said first-named abutment means, an expandable tubular member in said groove between a sidewall thereof and said clamp members for moving said clamp members in the direction to engage a log on said log engaging surface, means biasing said clamp members in the opposite direction, and means for supplying and exhausting pressure fluid to and from said tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 785,986 Traxler Mar. 28, 1905 869,270 Smith Oct. 29, 1907 1,312,615 Cooper Aug. 12, 1919 1,626,365 Straub Apr. 26, 1927 2,235,553 Haversack Mar. 18, 1941 2,382,958 Burgoine Aug. 21, 1945 2,397,110 Hill Mar. 26, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 467,952 Great Britain June 25, 1937 

